In the Kavango East Region, an amount of over N$243 million was invested in the health care programmes over the last financial year.
The funds went towards the renovation of two district hospitals, three healthcare centres, and 25 clinics and assisted in the outreach programme.
During the State of the Region Address at Rundu, Kavango East Governor Hamunyera Hambyuka stated that out of more than N$243 million, N$119 million was earmarked for pharmaceutical expenditure.
Hambyuka stated that access to quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege, sharing that efforts have been put in place to improve the health sector.
"In addition, the Shamaturu Clinic was commissioned while the construction of the Mabushe Clinic relocation project, which cost the regional government an amount of N$7,404,017.17, is nearly completed. Since the region is also affected by the HIV pandemic, an amount of N$2,424,425 was allocated to enhance HIV testing and counselling services to private patients at Divundu, Karukuta village, and Kaisosi settlement."
The governor further shared that with the budget, the council installed water tanks at Ndama, Nkarapamwe, and Sauyemwa clinics.
The council also looked at improving manpower in the health sector.
"The region's programme of training newly graduated pharmacists through the provision of internships at Rundu Intermediate Hospital continues uninterrupted. Moreover, four dentists have been recruited—one at Andara, two at Nyangana, and one at Rundu District—to improve healthcare accessibility and ease the pressure of long queues. To enhance our response time to community calls, three new ambulances were received from the central government to be allocated to Rundu Intermediate Hospital and Andara and Nyangana District Hospitals, respectively."
An expansion of dental services through outreach programmes across all health and correctional facilities was also conducted.
The Kavango East Region also received support from IntraHealth and the CDC with the construction of Biro prefabricated structures to provide timely healthcare to its people.